so far, so (very) good

LaDarious Clark can play. He put up star-spangled numbers at Southeast Lauderdale High, East Mississippi Community College and West Florida – and now he is doing it in pro ball. Clark (whose first name is sometimes spelled LeDarious) is on a 21-for-46 tear over his last 10 games for Spokane, the Texas Rangers’ affiliate in the short-season Class A Northwest League. The 5-foot-9 outfielder is batting .394 with three homers, 12 RBIs and seven steals for the season. Clark, also a standout football player in high school and at EMCC, has always inspired raves about his tools. But there seemed to be questions about his attitude. He was the top-rated juco draft prospect in the state in 2014 but wasn’t picked. He went to NCAA Division II West Florida, where he batted .329 with eight bombs and 21 steals and was All-Gulf South Conference this past season. The Rangers plucked him in the 12th round. He went 0-for-3 in his debut but has hit safely in every game since, 15 straight. He can play. But it takes more than physical tools to climb the baseball ladder. Maybe Clark has learned that.